I thought that I would write down different ways to turn herbs into medicine. Thought I would start out with TINCTURES as they are my favorite, because they will last forever if properly stored. 1) First you want herbs that are of good quality either learn to harrvest them yourself (preferable), or buy them from someone that knows what they are doing. 2) Once you have the herbs put them into a jar with a lid. I use mason jars because they are handy and we have lots of them. 3) Next get a cheap vodka and pour enough in the jar to cover the herbs. 4) Put the lid on tight and shake it vigoursily. 5) Store in a warm dark place. 6) For at least the 2 weeks take the jar out and shake well 2-3 times a day. You can leave it longer it will just get stronger. 7) Strain the herbs out and the liquid into a jar with a tight lid. Then put the jar into a dark warm area again. It will stay good forever stored liked this. OGM P.S. As I have time I will put other ways of turning herbs into medicines on this thread.
Vodka has many practical uses other than making tinctures; you can use it as lamp or stove fuel, an astringent, a facial cleanser, a sedative, a preservative for fruits and vegetables, and you can even drink the stuff, in a pinch.
What CC said, only: Can you make a list of what herbs are used for certain ailments/injuries? Tricks to harvesting herbs? If it's more than cutting them off at the tops with my scissors, I definitely need help, here!
You can make almost any herb into a tincture. Most all herbs have compounds that are alcohol soluable. I'll try to write more later it's almost time to run off to work. OGM
I guess I never got back to this. Yellow dock (Rumex crispus) is a great herb to turn into a tincure, and has many uses. Here is a pic of it going to seed. I like to dig it in the fall after it has dried up. http://www.missouriplants.com/Greenalt/Rumex_crispus_mature_plant.jpg It can be used as a liver stimulater, white blood cell booster, kills the flu virus faster than anything I've seen. It will also draw out boils/tumors when rubbed on them. The root has a high sulfer content and can be smelled when you break a fresh root. The tincure will NOT be one of you favorite things to drink. But it is very effective and easy to use. Disclaimer; This is for informational use only and not medical advise. Any use of this information is at your own risk, be sure you know what you are doing and can identify any herb before using it. Sorry guys I had to cover my butt. OGM BTW I'll try to add more latter.
Re: a Heebee gone. Sooner or later, we gettem ALL. I think Conagher did it, he's a pretty good shot with the bang un..
Ethnobotanical uses <DL><DT>Rumex crispus (POLYGONACEAE) <DD>Alterative Uphof; Antiseptic* Nas; Astringent Liogier, Steinmetz, Woi.Syria; Boil Eb24: 311, Krochmal; Cancer Hartwell; Cathartic* Nas; Constipation Nas; Depurative Al-Rawi, Steinmetz; Diuretic Liogier; Dysentery Brutus, Liogier; Emollient Liogier; Fever Liogier; Hivess Krochmal; Homeopathy Woi.Syria; Itch Liogier; Laxative Krochmal, Steinmetz, Uphof; Medicine Eb22: 333; Nerves Krochmal; Parasiticide Bliss, Krochmal; Poison Altschul; Purgative Woi.Syria; Refrigerant Liogier; Ringworm Krochmal; Scurvy Liogier, Steinmetz; Sedative Steinmetz; Skin Krochmal; Suppurative Eb24: 311; Tea Liogier; Tinea Nas; Tonic Bliss, Steinmetz, Uphof, Woi.Syria; Tumor Hartwell</DD></DL>
Yes it is a weed and is very abundant. Tipically grows in fields and along road sides. It is also curly dock because of the leaves look like wavey lace on a womans garment. OGM
Yellow Dock: http://cgi.ebay.com/Yellowdock-root...QQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item130281613537 Anthony's is my FAVORITE Ebay store in the whole wide Ebay WORLD!! So, don't go buying all the bulk food stocks before I have a chance to do that myself!
Well they are selling powdered herbs and herbs lose their medicinal value rather quikly when powdered. Besides I could beat that price. OGM
Ok lets move on to one of my favorite herbs, Allium sativum (garlic). If there ever was a cure all this is it. Garlic must be consumed raw to give any medicinal value. If I could only have one herb garlic would be that herb. It can be used as an; Alterative, anthelmintic, antibacterial, antibiotic, anticaterrhal, antiinflammatory, antimycotic, antimeoplastic, antispasmodic, carminative, cholagogue, condiment, diaphoretic, digestant, disinfectant, diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, febrifuge, hypotensive, nervine, rubefacient, spasmolytic, stomachic, tonic, vulnerary, and vasodilator. We had a goat one time that had a very bad skin condition that we could not get rid of so I made garlic oil by soaking crushed garlic in olive oil for several days and then appling it to the rash. The rash was gone in about 2 days. DW had carpal tunel sydrome so bad that she could hardly brush her hair or hold a coffe cup. She ate raw garlic everyday for about a year and hasn't had any problems since. I got put out of the US Navy because my knees are tore up when they start to bother me more than normal I eat garlic and it reduces the pain. Once again the garlic must be raw, heat kills its medicinal value OGM